Game 107 Recap: Braves 9, Padres 2

by gondeee on Aug 5, 2009 8:42 AM EDT in Braves Game Recaps

Like a jock strap on a cold day, Javier Vazquez felt the warm embrace of run support as the Braves put up nine runs behind his strong effort on the mound. Vazquez went 7 innings allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6 -- another quality start for Javy.

The offense tied a season-high record with 17 hits. This, despite Matt Diaz tying a franchise record by grounding into 3 double plays -- he redeemed himself by homering in the sixth. Adam LaRoche is all kinds of hot right now as he went 4-for-4 (all singles), and has had a hit in every game he has started for the Braves since being re-acquired last week. Martin Prado and Garret Anderson also added 3-hits a piece. Even Vazquez had a hit. The only regular without a hit -- Chipper Jones.

Chipper is now just 6-for-his-last-32, a .188 average. This begs the question, "is something wrong?" He doesn't seem to be hurting or favoring anything. Perhaps he's simply not getting any good pitches to hit, and he's pressing to try and make something happen. Whatever it is, if we can get him going like the Chipper Jones of last year, then we really might have a chance.

Final - 8.4.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	0	1	0	1	1	4	0	2	0	9	17	0
San Diego Padres	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0
WP: Javier Vazquez (9 - 7) LP: Tim Stauffer (1 - 3)

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It’s more then lack of pitches for Chipper. He hasn’t been catching up to fast balls, and his contact has not been great on alot of pitches he should be hitting.

He is too good for this to be anything other then some kind of nagging injury, in my opinion. Lets hope it clears up soon.

by Sid Bream's Moustache on Aug 5, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

You could see him last night in the dugout – I think it may have been one of his last at bats – talking to someone (coach I can’t name) none too happy and it was like he was mimicking holding the bat and swinging with his hands. You could tell he was frustrated about something.

by NCChopper on Aug 5, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s got to be something wrong with Chipper and he’s keeping it a secret because he knows if he goes on the DL for 2 weeks or more this team is done.

by redwards95 on Aug 5, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

As opposed to the huge boost they get by seeing him go 0-4 with a walk every night.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah because we're deep in 3rd baseman

Headlining the Campaign for the return of Ryan Langerhans! MVP 2011!

by RichmondBraves on Aug 5, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Prado, question mark?

Infante will be back inside of a week, too.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Great game to watch, even greater to come away with a win because it’s not easy to hit into 3 DPs (2 by the 4th inning) and still get enough offense to over come leaving that many on base (9)…especially the ’09 Braves.

Javy pitched great last night -a joy to watch.

I’m hoping Hanson has a stellar performance tonight to make it 2 in a row. There really is no excuse to lose this series to a 44-64 team if we hope to be competitive in the playoffs, even if it is in their park. A much tougher test starts tomorrow.

by NCChopper on Aug 5, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

LaRoche

Interesting Tidbit on the Braves site about last night:

Tidbits
Adam LaRoche, who hit safely in his fourth straight game for the Braves on Tuesday, driving in his teams’ first run, has joined select company as a result of his home run on Monday. According to Elias Sports Bureau, LaRoche became just the fourth player in the past 10 years to homer for three teams in one season and having at least one team in each league. He joins Cliff Floyd in 2002 (Florida, Montreal, Boston), Matt Lawton in ’05 (Pittsburgh, Chicago White Sox, Yankees) and Phil Nevin in ’06 (Texas, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota).

by NCChopper on Aug 5, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Forget trying to trade Javy…we should try to work out an extension past next season. Dude’s our ace.

by beeswax on Aug 5, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

...for now

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

one of the many (potential) ace(s)

(I count our current aces as Huddy and Vazquez and future aces as Hanson and JJ)

by beeswax on Aug 5, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Which is exactly why tying up more money in a starter might not make the most sense.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome, brother.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 5, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I bet he’d bite on it too. From what I’ve read he loves playing in Atlanta & playing for Bobby Cox and he’s clearly excelled from being back in the NL.

Unless we plan to trade him for a first baseman for next season, I think we should try and keep him around.

by beeswax on Aug 5, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Those are my thoughts exactly…It kind of makes sense to trade him for a 1B/3B hybrid who will play 1B until Freeman is ready, then slide over to 3rd when Chipper hangs it up for good.

Ugh, I just made a mess on myself…

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 5, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe swap

Javy for Youkilis. It’s not like they need him up there with VMart anymore. I know this isn’t realistic but wouldn’t it be great for Youk to play first until Freeman’s ready and then slide over to 3rd?

by BlueVol03 on Aug 5, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I have a feeling Martinez is going to get quite a bit of time at C...

Varitek is not exactly aging like a fine wine.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

And Lowell's getting up there too.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

It's too bad LaRoche's second-half hitting isn't repeatable.

He sure is gonna turn out to be a hell of a cock tease.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

I mean, I don't expect him to hit .548 for us the rest of the year...

But we all know the second half splits, and it’s not like it’s been a month here and there. The sample size is his career and I would be more shocked if he’s hitting .250 at the end of september than .270-.280

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Aug 5, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I know.

I’m with you. That was a shot at the folks who said that second-half splits are a myth and LaRoche was going to hit no better than Kotchman over the rest of the year.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 5, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Word.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Aug 6, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Like a jock strap on a cold day

That, ladies and gentlemen, is pure poetry.

Shouldn't Reid Gorecki get a shot in RF before that Heyward kid everybody talks about?

by Rhyno18 on Aug 5, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

lol

by soup du jour on Aug 5, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been trying to imagine what that must feel like all day.

by NCChopper on Aug 5, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, this team is all kinds of bi-polar. I’d rather see more consistent offensive output rather than efforts of 0/1/9/0/9/etc like it seems we’ve been doing lately. Our pitching is good enough to carry us, we just need to get them more run consistently.

by soup du jour on Aug 5, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly, I’ve been watching the Braves this year and there just isn’t a simple explanation for the on again off again offense of this team. I mean if it was off most of the time you could blame it on lack of talent or the coaching,now I don’t care for T.P.‘s coaching style but it’s not his fault. There just isn’t any 1 thing I can definitively point to and say this is the problem. They have some really good talent, but fail to turn it on consistently. I’m no baseball analyst, but just mystified, any ideas?

by jimmontg on Aug 5, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions